Police are investigating a suspected attempt to abduct a child near a Coulsdon primary school.

A motorist invited a 11-year-old pupil into his car as she walked home from Smitham Primary School at 3.15pm on Thursday last week. 

The driver, thought to be white, in his forties with short brown hair, told the girl he was a friend of her father when she declined.

The Year 6 pupil again refused and the man drove off in his black car.

The girl then went into a nearby petrol station and told staff she was worried.  She was collected by her father soon after.

Zoe Harris, the Portnalls Road school's headteacher, said: "We have contacted the police about this incident and will be speaking to the children generally about stranger danger. 

"We also sent a letter to all the schools in the local area so that they were aware of this incident and I think letters were sent out by them as well.

"The police responded very quickly, which was reassuring."

Police are not linking the incident to an attempted abduction in Sutton on May 12, in which a 12-year-old girl wriggled free of a man who grabbed her in an alley between Beddington Park and Meller Close.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers from Croydon CID are investigating and the local Safer Neighbourhoods teams in Coulsdon have made local schools aware and are carrying out additional patrols around the schools.

"Officers are also reminding parents and children to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or people to police by calling 999."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information should call the police on 101.